"I personally frown on it," Rubenstein said during a press conference in his courthouse office.

Rubenstein's comments came after he was questioned about the level of political activity in the District Attorney's Office. In addition to Rubenstein, two other county prosecutors are seeking office in the November election.

They are Goldman and Michael J. Kane, the incumbent district attorney who is seeking a seat on the Common Pleas Court bench. Kane, Rubenstein and Goldman are all Republicans.

Rubenstein called the press conference to denounce the decision of his Democratic opponent, Nathan Criste, to accept campaign contributions from defense attorneys. The Republican also criticized Criste's ties to the Democratic Party.

The Republican candidate contended that he would run a district attorney's office free of political interference.

Rubenstein said he had no problem with Kane's candidacy for judge, or the fact that about three-quarters of the district attorney's staff worked at the polls for Kane during the spring primary.

"Mike Kane never said to anyone, 'Go out and work for me at the polls.' These were people who volunteered for Mike Kane," said Rubenstein.

However, Rubenstein questioned whether it was proper for Goldman to be politically active.

"I don't want to get into a debate about Bob Goldman running for the Government Study Commission," Rubenstein said. "I'll give you a blanket statement: I don't think anyone in this office should be running for anything other than judge or district attorney."

Rubenstein acknowledged that "political tension" has existed in the office because of Goldman's interest in elective office. Goldman was, in fact, a candidate for district attorney earlier this year. He droppedout of the race after failing to win the GOP endorsement.

Goldman responded that he intends to keep his job in the District Attorney's Office separate from politics. He said he has no intentions of dropping out of the government study campaign.

"It's my understanding that the Government Study Commission is a nonpartisan committee that may or may not be elected in November. It's not going to affect in any way the amount of work I give the people of Bucks County. I certainly won't allow politics to enter into this office," Goldman said.

Goldman has been endorsed for the study commission by the Bucks County Republican Party.

As for Criste, Rubenstein charged that the Democrat would not be free of political interference because the treasurer of his campaign committee is William F. Heefner, a Bedminster attorney who also serves as treasurer of the county Democratic committee.

Rubenstein also complained that about $2,500 in contributions to Criste's campaign have come from Bucks County lawyers. The Republican suggested that a candidate for district attorney should not accept funds from lawyers who may be representing clients in criminal trials.

Reached for comment, Criste said contributors to his campaign include "Democratic attorneys who have the confidence that I'm the best candidate."

Criste pledged that he would not allow political contributions from Democrats to influence how he runs the District Attorney's Office. He added that most of the lawyers who contributed do not accept criminal clients.

"Ninety percent of the lawyers who contributed to my campaign have never seen the inside of a criminal courtroom," he said.